Blackboard and Wiley Partner to Combine Learning Content and Tools with Blackboard Learn

LAS VEGAS, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa, JWb) and Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) announced today a new global partnership that will enable institutions running the Blackboard Learn™ platform to seamlessly access Wiley's rich collection of learning content and tools – including the popular online teaching and learning environment, WileyPLUS.

As part of the partnership, the companies plan to integrate the content and capabilities of WileyPLUS and Blackboard Learn to simplify and strengthen the process for adding digital content and tools to courses. The integration plans to enable users of WileyPLUS to access the system with their Blackboard® credentials and automatically synchronize grades and other data with the Blackboard Learn gradebook.

The integration plans to eliminate the need for students and instructors to manage activities and information in separate systems with multiple logins, and it also plans to greatly enhance adoption and workflow for users of Wiley's digital content and tools within Blackboard Learn, the most popular learning management platform in higher education.

WileyPLUS is a research-based, online environment for effective teaching and learning that includes the entire digital textbook. With WileyPLUS, students will always know what to do, how to do it, and if they are doing it right through instant feedback, personalized learning plans, and self-evaluation tools that are available 24/7. Available for over 225 Wiley titles and used in over 20 countries globally, WileyPLUS builds student confidence because it takes the guesswork out of studying and is proven to improve student outcomes.

"With this partnership we are extending our mission to 'Help teachers to teach, and students to learn," said Joseph Heider, Senior Vice President for Wiley's Global Education. "We are confident that combining Blackboard's market leadership with the proven ability of WileyPLUS to help instructors and students succeed, more students will have access to affordable and effective online educational solutions."

The announcement was made at BbWorld®, Blackboard's annual user conference being held this week in Las Vegas. As part of the partnership, Wiley becomes a Blackboard Strategic Partner™ in the Blackboard Partnerships Program™. 

"Wiley is known for its high-quality content and pedagogy and has a strong global brand in education," said Matthew Small, Chief Business Officer at Blackboard. "We are pleased to partner with them to offer our combined clients and users a simpler, more powerful learning experience that leverages the full possibility of integrating digital content and tools with the Blackboard Learn platform."

For more information about Blackboard Learn, please visit http://www.blackboard.com/learn. For more information about Wiley, please visit http://www.wiley.com.

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.

Wiley's core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2011 and Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2011 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of July 13, 2011. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to July 13, 2011.

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.